Boasting a spooky dark red hue and a sweet taste, this Halloween Cocktail with Rum is the ideal eerie beverage for your Halloween celebration! Drawing inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s masquerade, this layered martini glass is simple to make and sure to delight guests.
It's October, and things are getting deliciously spooky! Halloween is our favorite excuse to mix up themed drinks, and this Halloween cocktail with rum is as easy as it is eerie.
Made with white rum, tart raspberry, and cola, it's a fun addition to your spooky drink menu-right alongside favorites like my Green Apple Sangria or Caramel Apple Sangria. With years of bartending experience, I love creating cocktails that feel special but are simple enough for beginners to master.
Bartender’s Tools to Make Martinis
For this Halloween Cocktail with Rum, the essentials of a well-stocked bar are easy to gather. Everything is optional but helpful, including:
- Jigger with 1oz and 1.5 oz measurements
- A long spoon
- Cocktail shaker
- Martini Glasses or 10 fl oz Rocks Glasses
- Cocktail swords or these Reusable Skull Cocktail Picks
If you don't have a jigger on hand, 1 ounce is equal to 2 tablespoons.
Ingredients and Substitutions
White Rum - A classic white rum like Bacardi Superior offers a smooth, subtle flavor that serves as the perfect base. You could substitute a dark or flavored rum, like Malibu Coconut Rum, but it will alter the flavor.
Raspberry Liqueur - Chambord is a top choice for its rich, fruity flavor, but DeKuyper Razzmatazz is a great budget-friendly alternative. You can also experiment with other fruit-flavored liqueurs.
Soda - Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Diet versions add a familiar, refreshing fizz to the drink. You can substitute with tart cherry juice or blood orange for a bolder and vibrant color that typically layers well.
Maraschino Cherries - These add a pop of color and a touch of sweetness. Other garnish ideas include decorating the rim of your cocktail glass with gummy spiders or a lime wedge dipped in luster dust.
Grenadine – Grenadine is what is going to create the bottom layer and if you go around changing the ingredients too much, it may not layer correctly.
Tip for a Smoky Effect!
For an eerie, smoky Halloween martini, drop in a small piece of dry ice. It’s extremely important that you wait until the dry ice has completely dissolved before drinking. DO NOT ingest dry ice. Use gloves or tongs to handle the dry ice, as it can cause severe burns.
The Science Behind Layered Cocktails
Ever wonder why some drinks naturally layer instead of blending together? It all comes down to specific gravity, which is the density of each ingredient.
Liquids with more sugar or less alcohol are heavier, while those with higher alcohol content are lighter. For example, grenadine has a specific gravity of about 1.18, so it sinks straight to the bottom. In contrast, high-proof rum has a gravity around 0.95, making it light enough to float beautifully on top.
You can easily find specific gravities of many liquors and mixers in this specific gravity chart.
How to Make a Layered Cocktail
Now that you know how layering works, here are a few simple tricks for perfect results - no bartending experience required!
Chill your ingredients: Temperature affects a liquid's density, so keeping everything cold helps layers stay crisp and defined. If you forget, just shake the rum and raspberry liqueur separately with ice - the grenadine will layer fine at room temperature.
Start with Grenadine - Measure and add the grenadine to the bottom of the glass first. Since grenadine is dense, it will naturally settle at the bottom, creating that rich red base.
Layer with a Spoon - Using the back of a spoon placed against the rim of your glass, slowly pour the raspberry liqueur into the glass. This technique helps to gently slow down the liquid, ensuring it doesn't mix with the previous layer. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients, like the rum and cola, to create distinct layers.
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Red Death Over Ice Variation
If you’re fresh out of martini glasses or simply on the hunt for a Halloween party cocktail that guests can make themselves? This variation will have more of a gradient than strictly layered, but still very fun!
- Pre-chill ALL the ingredients to slow the ice melt.
- Add ice to a rocks glass and pour the ingredients in this order-grenadine, Chambord, rum, and then cola-over the ice.
- Garnish with two maraschino cherries on a pick.
The ice itself will slow the pour action, so there’s no need to use a spoon in this variation.
Pairings & Presentation Tips
- Serve this cocktail alongside dark desserts (chocolate, black velvet cake) or with a tray of spooky Halloween buffet appetizers.
- Pair with sultry black items – cocktail napkins, velvet runner, black masks, and candlelight for ambiance.
- Garnish ideas – decorate the rim of your cocktail glass with gummy spiders, a lime wedge dipped in luster dust, or a themed cocktail sword.
- How far in advance can I mix it? - Layering must be done when serving. For iced, you can add the grenadine and liquors ahead of time but wait until serving to add ice and soda.
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Red Death Halloween Cocktail
Equipment
- Martini Glasses
Ingredients
- 5 oz Coca-Cola Pepsi and Diet cola varieties also work.
- 1.5 tablespoon Grenadine
- 1.5 oz Bacardi Superior Rum
- 2 Maraschino Cherries
- 1 Cocktail Picks
- 1 oz Raspberry Liqueur Chambord is the best, but DeKuyper Razzmatazz is a cheaper option.
Instructions
- Chill all ingredients in the refrigerator prior to layering.
- Measure and add 1.5 tablespoon Grenadine in the bottom of the glass.
- Measure out 1 oz Raspberry Liqueur with a jigger. If you don't have a jigger on hand, 1 fluid ounce is equal to 2 tablespoons. Using the back of a spoon placed against the glass rim, slowly pour the raspberry liqueur over the spoon into the glass. Repeat with 1.5 oz Bacardi Superior Rum and 5 oz Coca-Cola.
- Garnish with 2 Maraschino Cherries on 1 Cocktail Picks.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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